Balanchine's The Nutcracker Returns to NYC Ballet at the Koch Theater
New York City Ballet's holiday classic runs November 27 to January 3 at the David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center.
Few New York traditions are as dependable as George Balanchine's The Nutcracker at New York City Ballet. This season the production opens on Friday, November 27, and plays through Sunday, January 3, 2027, at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, at West 63rd Street and Columbus Avenue.
Why it endures
Balanchine's version, set to Tchaikovsky's score, has long been the company's signature holiday offering, and it is built to be seen by children and adults alike. According to the company's announcement for last year's run, more than 150 NYCB dancers and musicians take part, and more than 120 students from the School of American Ballet appear in alternating casts, which means the youngest performers on stage are the company's own future dancers.
For families
Last season the company paired the production with family programming, including a one-hour Family Saturdays session for ages 5 and up hosted by principal dancer Megan Fairchild, movement workshops for young children, and a sensory-friendly performance with adjusted lighting and sound. A sensory-friendly matinee is again scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, January 3. The company has not yet detailed which family events return this year in the sources reviewed, so check nycballet.com.
Tickets
Tickets are available at nycballet.com, by phone at 212-496-0600, or at the theater box office. Last season's announcement listed sensory-friendly tickets from $59 and Family Saturdays tickets from $29; current pricing should be confirmed with the company.
The ballet company's 2026-27 season is a large one, with 48 ballets announced and a spring repertory run that continues to May 30, 2027, but for the weeks ahead the Nutcracker is the only ballet listed at the Koch Theater, and a good first ballet for a young visitor.